Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Apr 24: Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST) has busted a tea powder adulteration racket in the city and arrested 10 persons allegedly involved in manufacturing and distributing adulterated tea powder.

Acting on specific information about large-scale adulteration, H-FAST conducted searches at 15 locations across Hyderabad, targeting units engaged in the preparation and supply of the spurious product.

Police said the accused were allegedly mixing synthetic food colours, jaggery juice, and used and expired tea powder to improve appearance and maximise profits.

During the operation, officials seized 3,000 kg of adulterated tea powder, 1,500 kg of expired tea powder, artificial colours used in adulteration, and 100 kg of jaggery.

According to police, the accused sourced low-quality tea powder from vendors in Kolkata, Kerala and Assam, and allegedly used harmful synthetic chemicals and dyes before repackaging the product under different brand names for sale.

The accused have reportedly admitted to adulterating inferior-quality tea powder using synthetic substances to make the product appear fresh and marketable.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Commissioner’s Task Force) Gaikwad Vaibhav Raghunath said action is being initiated under provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.